First to learn of the Horus Heresy, Rogal Dorn and the Imperial Fists respond to a distress call. Guess what happens next…
Rogal Dorn and the Imperial Fists head to Terra to inform the Emperor of Horus’ actions.
Via our friends at: Lexicanum
Rogal Dorn and the Imperial Fists were the first loyalists to learn of the Horus Heresy other than those attacked on Isstvan III. While attempting to reach Terra as ordered by the Emperor after Ullanor, the Legion responded to a distress call from the Eisenstein. Rogal Dorn discovered Death Guard Captain Nathaniel Garro and remembrancerMersadie Oliton, who carried news of the events which had transpired on Isstvan III. In response, Dorn ordered the bulk of the Imperial Fists to the Isstvaan system while he and the Legion’s veteran companies returned to Terra to inform the Emperor of Horus’ treachery. Significantly, each deployment faced difficulties from the Warp Storms that had enveloped the galaxy, which made navigation nearly impossible.
On Terra, Dorn assumed command of the Imperium’s armed forces. There, the Imperial Fists oversaw the fortification of the Imperial Palace, as previously ordered before the Heresy, and other duties relating to its defense, such as counter-intelligence. They nonetheless also fought scattered battles throughout the Galaxy, such as against the Iron Warriors in the First Siege of Hydra Cordatus
Dorn immediately organised the Imperium’s response to Isstvan III. After making contact as best as possible with the other Legions, which the Warp storms hampered, Dorn ordered that Horus be confronted on Isstvan V where his forces were entrenching themselves. Discussing the reasoning of this strategy with Malcador The Sigillite, he stated that “…kill the head and the body will die.” Notably, Dorn elected to keep his veteran companies on Terra while apparently assuming the bulk of the Legion which had been ordered to the Isstvan system would join the assault on their own initiative if they were able to navigate there successfully.
At the same time, Mars entered into open revolt, endangering the Imperium’s access to war material. In response, Dorn ordered First Captain Sigismund and Captain Camba-Diaz to command four veteran companies to secure the forges of Mondus Occulum and Mondus Gamma, which together produced the majority of Astartes weapons and armour. The Astartes force was accompanied by number of Imperial Army units, including thirteen companies of Saturnine Hoplites and four regiments of Jovian Grenadiers, also under the command of the Imperial Fists captains. The operation was met with overwhelming resistance by traitor forces belonging to the Adeptus Mechanicus. The two companies under the command of Comba-Diaz were outnumbered one hundred to one and Sigismund’s force of the same size was met by two full Titan Legions. Facing annihilation, the Imperial Fists withdrew from Mars, abandoning the forges but successfully evacuating at least 12,000 suits of MK4 Power Armour and twice as many weapons. The four veteran companies involved in the operation suffered heavy casualties and were reduced to half strength.
The next seven years of the Heresy are shrouded in mystery, including the role of the Imperial Fists. In fact, their next major actions on record are at the Defence of Terra, during which the Legion made indispensable contributions to the defense of theImperial Palace alongside the White Scars and the Blood Angels. But even here details are scarce. What little is known includes that the Legion made a massive move to reinforce the Palace from the great Sky Fortress at a critical juncture of the battle. It is also known that Dorn had the honour of accompanying the Emperor aboard Horus‘ Battle Barge and that he discovered the bodies of the Emperor, Horus and Sanguinius after the final drama had run its course.
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About the Author: Zeb Barrett
